ARCHIVED - 56 African migrants intercepted off the coast of Cartagena

Five small boats were spotted and intercepted on Wednesday night and Thursday morning

56 African migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean into Spain and the EU were intercepted off the coast of Cartagena on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, according to the central government delegation in the Region of Murcia, all of them of Algerian nationality and apparently in good health.

Two of the small “patera” boats in which these migrants generally make their perilous crossings were intercepted in Wednesday by the Guardia Civil, with 25 people on board, and then on Thursday morning the maritime rescue services intercepted another three boats between 6.05 and 8.20, carrying 7, 13 and 11 people respectively. All of the migrants were taken to Cartagena and, having been attended to by Cruz Roja volunteers, handed over to the Policía Nacional.